Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Saturday of the 19th week in ordinary time, August 16, 2025

Delivered by Gladys from the Parish of Saint Gabriel in the Diocese of Bandung, Indonesia. Joshua 24: 14-29; Rs psalm 16: 1-2a.5.7-8.11; Matthew 19: 13-15.DON'T WASTE HOPE The title for ourmeditation today is: Don't Waste Hope. There were two children, the siblings ofsix and four years old, always attending the Holy Masses at the church togetherwith their parents. The two boys loved to play, run and tell stories. One ofthe parents always accompanied them outside the church so that they did notmake unncessary noise when the Holy Mass was being celebrated. The parentattended the celebration from outside the church while watching over the twochildren. However in aparticular moment, an adult met the two children and rebuked them that theywere not allowed to play in church. They must stay in place and join otherpeople in the Holy Mass. But the oldest boy protested, as he said, "TheLord Jesus Himself does not forbid us to play, only you who forbid us."That adult was just silent and left in annoyance. The Lord Jesuscertainly understands very well on how children come to meet Him through theirown ways such as plays, telling stories and eagerly asking for blessings. Hecertainly wants to go down to their level so He can understand and teach them.Whas is narrated in the Gospel today really illustrates how Jesus and thechildren were enjoying their special moment of encounter and interaction. Butadults often don't have such understanding on this special encounter. Theythink that their way of enconter with the Lord is the most appropriate one,while the children simply do not have any need for the encounter. We all agree thatchildren and young people are the hope of the Church and society. Therefore, wemust try by all means that this hope is not wasted any way. It is the desire ofall of us that children and young people have freedom and all possibilities forgrowth and development both physically and spiritually. In fact, the Gospeltestifies that the Lord Jesus gave the children the best way to grow in thespiritual aspect, namely living in God's blessings and grace. Therefore, if thereare acts to stop or to ignore the importance of education and growth of thechildren and young people, it is like to waste the hope for the Church and thesociety to have a life of tomorrow and after. From the spiritual standpoint, whenchildren take an active part in the life of the Church and its activities, theyare actually experiencing that growth. From there, they receive God's graceswhich become the light and strength to accompany them in their daily lives. Forall of us adults, young people and children, let God's words from the prophetEzekiel's prophecy today be our guidance, namely: "To live in God is thelife that is our righteousness and salvation." Let's pray. In the name of the Father... O Lord Jesus, may we become good helpers for children and young people,especially in their mental and spiritual growth. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit ... In the name of the Father ...